This year, I have been to Colorado more than any other state. The two reasons I have been there are…
The new Miss Rodeo Nevada is…
I have learned by means of deduction that I like to fly by Delta. Not only do they have peanuts and the seats usually have a small T.V. in the back but all of the Delta planes have a Sky Mall in each seat pocket. I love the odd items that they have for sale. I have even been tempted to tear out a page out and call the number. The one item I found that I really wanted was a frozen yogurt maker. It looked like something I could run and something I would use on a daily basis. But, low and behold, the frozen yogurt maker was close to $300, so my dream of eating frozen heaven everyday of the week was pushed out the Delta plane window. I would have especially loved to eat frozen yogurt while I was in Nevada.
My latest trip was to watch the 2010 Miss Rodeo Nevada pageant which was held in both Las Vegas and Logandale. Before I got on the plane I had checked The Weather Channel to see what the weather was going to be like; a balmy 80 degrees was the average for the entire weekend. I wasn’t disappointed when I landed either. The light jacket I had packed was more than enough for the weekend.
Valerie, the director for the Miss Reno Rodeo, picked me up from the airport. I have to tell you… she is a crack up! The whole time we waited for Miss Rodeo Nevada 2009 Andi Lynch and Miss Teen Rodeo Nevada 2009 Maddie Hughes, she told me about her impressive little boys. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to her talk about how proud she is of her children.
The first day I attended an autograph signing and the rodeo performance. The autograph signing was held at Star Nursery. This is one of their major sponsors so I felt very honored to be invited to be with the Nevada girls. While there I was able to get to know the three ladies competing for the Miss title; Shyla Marshall (whom I have known for many years), Lauren Neil (who came into the pageant as Miss Reno Rodeo) and Lindsey Dreyer (who also came in with a title, Miss Helldorado Rodeo). Even though I know that they were pretty nervous, it was nice to watch them interact with each other and the out-going queens. After a couple of hours of signing and chatting, Andi, Maddie and I got into Andi’s truck to make the hour trip to the Clark County Fair and Rodeo to participate in the rodeo. The horse I was allowed to ride was sponsored by Bobby Mariott. It was so generous of him and I thank him for trusting me with one of his pick-up horses. This night was topped off with an amazing feat of bravery by Miss Maddie Hughes, who fought off her fear by talking to Roy Cooper’s son Tuf Cooper. He is one of the rising stars in rodeo and it was exciting to be able to see him compete in the tie down roping that night.
The next day was filled up by the pageant. The first event, orientation, was dedicated to the ladies and their knowledge of rodeo, horses, and themselves. I thoroughly enjoyed watching them speak about their passions. After orientation we all filed out into Fremont Street to go over the schedule for the fashion show. Oh yeah… we all had the pleasure to perform to a huge crowd in the middle of the famous Fremont Street! When we had all learned when we were to go on stage Andi, Maddie and I were given the chance to take a well needed break. I had forgotten that you do not drive really anywhere when you’re in Vegas, you walk. So it goes to say that my feet had started to look like little sausages! After about two hours of watching mindless television, we got ready and met the rest of the fashion show participants at the Fremont Street stage. I have never competed in such a public place. Men and women, young and old all stopped to listen to the ladies say their speeches and model their leather dresses. Even in Vegas with all the distractions, it was nice to see how rodeo still breathes in every pore of so many people.
I swear, I am going to have a funny story after all of my trips and this one is no exception. The out-going queens and I stayed in the same casino, the Casablanca, the thing is that it is Mesquite which happens to be an hour and a half away from Las Vegas. Andi has a Tom Tom in her truck for the simple reason of not getting lost. Sadly, that is what happened. We were taken to some backstreet in the outskirts of the bigger city. Finally she decided that we needed to stop to ask for directions (go figure) and to fill up her truck. Little did we know, she had pulled into a full service gas station! What is funny about this is that she had never had someone pump her gas for her and man was she nervous. She thought that the gas attendant was going to get gas all over her truck and when she handed over her credit card that it was not going to be returned to her! Maddie and I were almost in tears watching her freak out over having someone else pump her gas.
The last day I was there was the crowning! All of the girls had done so well, I seriously didn’t know who was going to win. The contestants and I were loaded into a Dodge truck and taken into the arena. Finally the moment came when the new Miss Rodeo Nevada was going to be crowned. Photogenics went to Lindsay. Speech went to Shyla. Personality went to Lauren. Appearance went to Shyla. Horsemanship went to Lauren. That was two for two. I swear, I was more nervous than the girls to hear who had won. Shyla Marshall was awarded as being the 1st runner up and Lauren Neil was given the chance to represent Nevada as the 2010 Miss Rodeo Nevada!
It was a great weekend. I was able to see a great friend and make a new one. I thank the rodeo, stock contractor, Clark County Rodeo queens and the Miss Rodeo Nevada pageant members for allowing me to participate in the pageant and the rodeo! I am also so excited to get to know both Lauren and the newly crowned Miss Rodeo Arizona this next year!
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